It's 6,000 miles from Stamford Bridge but Rafa is popular at last (while Chelsea stars get mobbed at Starbucks)

Rafa Benitez may be struggling to win over the Chelsea fans back in England, but over in Japan the Blues’ faithful can’t get enough of their interim boss.

He was not the only one to receive a warm welcome from the Japanese fans, as Petr Cech and Paulo Ferreira were mobbed as they waited in line at a local Starbucks.

The European champions are in Yokohama preparing for their FIFA Club World Cup against Mexican side Monterrey on Thursday.

Scroll down for Graham Chadwick's video diary

Sign here please: Rafael Benitez signs autographs for fans as he leaves the team hotel

Happy to be here: Benitez looked happy to take time out to sign autographs for the fans

And ahead of training on Tuesday the Spanish manager was greeted by fans wanting his autograph, which was a far cry from the boos and jeers that welcomed him at Stamford Bridge when he was unveiled as manager last month against Manchester City.

And the Chelsea players were happy to get to know the locals as Ferreira purchased a 'Yokohama Starbucks' coffee mug as a souvenir but goalkeeper Cech opted to save his money as dozens of fans in Chelsea shirts swarmed around them in a local Starbucks.

Fan crazy: Petr Cech signs autographs before he was later mobbed by fans in a Yokohama branch of Starbucks

Fan fare: Paulo Ferreira was mobbed by Chelsea fans in Starbucks

Picking up a small size coffee, Cech asked his team mate: ‘Do you want to drink here or go back (to the hotel)?’

Closely watched by team security, the players patiently signed autographs and posed for photos with fans as they waited before Ferreira nervously replied: ‘Go back.’Japanese fans were thrilled at the surprise visit by their idols.

'Brilliant!' 21-year-old student Shohei Tanimura said. ‘That was lucky. I only came in for a quick coffee. Cech was huge. He's even bigger than he looks on TV.’

Out on the town: Chelsea's Fernando Torres walking down the street and signs an autograph for a fan

Hello geezers: David Luiz signs autographs for fans who see him in Yokohama

Chelsea's jet-lagged players had just finished training ahead of Thursday's game.The Premier League side, who last week became the first holders to exit the Champions League at the group stage, are under pressure to win the tournament in the Far East.

Chelsea are expected to meet Libertadores Cup holders Corinthians in the final on Sunday.

The Brazilian side play Egypt's Al-Ahly in Wednesday's first semi-final.

Watch Graham Chadwick video diary with the Chelsea squad at the Club World Cup